WINE countries: this looping route travels through some of the state's finest wine regions to the California coast

Sunset, June, 2004

* DRIVING DISTANCE: 161mi/258km from Vallejo to Fort Bragg (via Calistoga, Cloverdale, and Willits)

* DURATION: several days

* DON'T MISS: Clear Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma

* DID YOU KNOW: The Geysers Geothermal Field near Santa Rosa is the largest geothermal development in the world and produces enough electricity to power San Francisco.

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VALLEJO. Begin in the home of Six Flags Marine World, then head north up Hwy. 29 to ...

NAPA (14mi/22km). Enjoy gourmet dining year-round aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train. Or visit COPIA, the American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts. Continue on Hwy. 29 north to ...

YOUNTVILLE (9mi/14km). Century-old Vintage 1870 houses restaurants, galleries, and shops. Continue north on Hwy. 29, past Rutherford, to ...

ST. HELENA (10mi/16km). Visit Taylor's Refresher, a 1949 outdoor diner serving ahi tuna burgers and homemade ding-dongs. Continue to ...

CALISTOGA (9mi/14km). Renowned for its mineral water and hot-springs baths. From here you have two choices:

LAKE COUNTY BYWAY

CLEAR LAKE (36mi/58km). From Calistoga, drive north up Hwy. 29 through beautiful Robert Louis Stevenson SP and picturesque Middletown to Clear Lake, California's largest freshwater lake (fishing, boating, waterskiing, and sailing are just a few of its many attractions). At the town of Lower Lake, Hwy. 29 winds west through vineyards and past Mount Konocti before connecting with Hwy. 20. Along this route, visit Kelseyville, home of Clear Lake SP, and Lakeport, site of the county historical museum. To explore Clear Lake's northern side, at Lower Lake take Hwy. 53 north past Anderson Marsh SHP to Hwy. 20, which passes the agricultural center of Upper Lake and the lakeside resort communities of Nice, Lucerne, Glenhaven, and Clearlake Oaks. Continue on Hwy. 20 to Hwy. 101.

MAIN ROUTE

GEYSERVILLE (24mi/38km). From Calistoga, take Hwy. 128 to Hwy. 101 and Geyserville, which is the wine capital of Sonoma because it spans two famous grape-growing regions. Next along Hwy. 101 is tiny Asti, a co-op winery village founded in the 19th century. Nearby is the Lake Sonoma Recreation Area. Continue on Hwy. 101 north to ...

CLOVERDALE (10mi/16km). Information about the surrounding wine appellations is available at the North Coast Wine & Visitor Center. Continue north on Hwy. 101 to ...

HOPLAND (16mi/26km). Home of Fetzer Vineyards and the Solar Living Institute, a 12-acre facility powered entirely by renewable energy. Continue north on Hwy. 101 to ...

UKIAH (14mi/22km). Outstanding attractions include the Grace Hudson Museum and Sun House, an art history and Pomo Indian museum. Stop in at the Ukiah Brewing Company, the nation's first certified organic brewpub. Continue on Hwy. 101 north to ...

WILLITS (23mi/37km). The eastern terminus of the "Skunk" Train is here in this frontier town of historic homes and storefronts. To follow the train's route, drive west on Hwy. 20 to ...

FORT BRAGG (35mi/56km). The 46-acre Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is the only public garden in the continental United States fronting directly on the ocean. Spend a day collecting glass and exploring the many tide pools at Glass Beach, or visit MacKerricher SP, which offers oceanside campsites, hiking, and horseback riding trails just north of town. At the south end of town is Noyo Harbor, with charter boats for fishing and whale-watching. Head south on Hwy. 1 through Caspar to ...

MENDOCINO (10mi/16km). Since the 1960s, it has become a thriving arts colony and a major destination for B & B lovers. The 36-foot-high waterfall and 60-foot-deep blowhole are must-sees at Russian Gulch SP. Continue south on Hwy. 1 to ...

ALBION (8mi/13km). A sleepy little fishing village overlooking the sea. At the junction of Hwy. 128, turn east and drive through the towering redwoods in Hendy Woods SP to ...

BOONVILLE (32mi/51km). This Anderson Valley town is noted for the "boontling" language invented by the locals in the 1800s. Continue on Hwy. 128 through the valley to Hwy. 101 where you turn south to ...

HEALDSBURG (46mi/74km). Some 50 wineries are a 15-minute drive out of town. Surrounding its Plaza Park are restaurants, shops, a museum, and the Sonoma County Wine Library. From Healdsburg, continue on Hwy. 101 south to ...

SANTA ROSA (15mi/24km). Railroad Square, filled with antiques shops, restaurants, and a California Welcome Center, is built around a stone depot erected in 1905. Visit your favorite "Peanuts" friends at the Charles M. Schulz Museum. Leave Hwy. 101 for Hwy. 12 east to ...

GLEN ELLEN (15mi/24km). Savor "estate" olive oil at The Olive Press Tasting Room & Gift Shop. Continue southeast on Hwy. 12 to ...

SONOMA (7mi/11km). Sonoma SHP includes Mission San Francisco Solano, California's last and northernmost mission. Superb wineries and luxurious spas are located nearby. Stay south on Hwy. 12 to reach Hwy 37, which leads east back to Vallejo.